Blackburn Challenge Boat Classifications

Rowed Boats

  •  Fixed Seat: Oar-on-gunwale boats only.  Fixed seat boats with outriggers are in the Open Class division.

  •  Sliding Seat Touring: Singles and doubles with overall length to overall beam ratio less than or equal to 9:1 or overall length less than or equal to 19' (singles) or 23' (doubles).

  •  Sliding Seat Racing: Singles and doubles with overall length to overall beam ratio greater than 9:1, and generally longer and narrower than Sliding Seat Touring boats.

  •  Workboat: Traditional displacement (load-bearing) rowing craft, peapods and dories that are propelled with two oars per rower. Traditional Banks Dories are workboats but have their own classification.

  •  FISA Coastal Sliding Seat - C1x: The Cape Ann Rowing Club is pleased to add the "FISA Coastal" Sliding Seat Class to the Blackburn Challenge. Currently we have just one singles class for men and women, "C1x". Depending on demand, we will consider adding a mens and womens class, as well as a doubles class.

    While we are following the FISA Coastal boat classification, the Blackburn Challenge is NOT a formal FISA Coastal race. Below are the full FISA Coatal boat specification. Please note the 35kg weight minimum:

FISA COASTAL

 

Paddled Boats

High-Performance Kayaks and Surfskis

Traditionally all surfskis have been included in the "HPK" class. In 2013 a new “SS20+” class was introduced to offer a class of stable surfskis which race independently from HPK and FSK. . This class is based upon the dimensions of the surfski, which is a major factor with respect to boat stability.

To determine if a surfski is part of the SS20+ class, use the manufacturers dimensions and divide the length by width. If less then 11.25, then you can race in the SS20Plus class. Any surfski with a ratio of 11.25 or greater will race in the HPK class. The table below includes many popular models that may be in question. If you do not see your surfski, just calculate the length to width ratio and if the result is less than 11.25 register in the SS20+ Class.

Fast Sea Kayaks and Sea Kayaks

Starting in 2008, Blackburn kayak classification adopted the Sound Rowers kayak classification system. Sound Rowers is a consortium of race organizers in the Puget Sound area.  In this system, kayaks are classified into one of three categories “based on waterline length to width ratio. Those boats with a L:W ratio less than 9.25:1 are in the Sea Kayak class (SK); between 9.25:1 to 11.5:1 are in the Fast Sea Kayak class (FSK); greater than 11.5:1 are in the High Performance Kayak class (HPK)”. See below for more information on determining L:W ratio.

You will be placed in an appropriate category by the race committee based on the information you provide about your boat during registration.  We ask that when you register, you provide exact information about the manufacturer and model of your boat, so that we can reference our copy of the Sound Rowers’ classification list for known boats.  (I.E.: please don’t enter an “Epic Kayak”, rather, enter “Epic 16X Sport”, or “Epic V10 Surf Ski”).

All boats of similar dimensions will end up in the same classes:

  • The Sea Kayak (SK) class includes familiar boats such as Aquaterra’s Chinook, Chesapeake Light Craft’s Chesapeake 16 and Chesapeake 17, Current Designs’ Caribou,  Eddyline’s Falcon 16’, Necky’s Looksha IV, P&H’s Capella, and Wilderness System’s Tempest 165 Pro

  • The Fast Sea Kayak (FSK) class includes models such as the Epic Endurance 18, Epic 18X, the Impex Force Category 4, the QFC 600x and 700x, and the Seda Glider and Impulse.

  • The Surfski 20 Plus (SS20+) class is a new class for 2013. See above.

  • The Unlimited or High Performance Kayak (HPK) class includes most surf skis such as Huki S1-R/S1-X, Epic V10/V12, Stellar SES/SE/SEL/Falcon/SEA, Fenn Swordfish/Elite/Mako 6, the Valley Rapier 20, the Van Dusen Mohican, and many of the Westside Boat models.

There are no kayak class distinctions based on paddle type.  All paddle types (wing or straight blade) of any material (composite or wood) are acceptable in all classes.  We encourage you to choose all of your equipment (boat, paddle, pfd, etc.) based on your own skills and capabilities, and with your main consideration towards personal safety and comfort.  (Note that the breadth of boat profiles in each category allows most individuals the option to change boats the day of the race while staying in the same class – for example, a person who registered in the Unlimited class on a Mako Millenium surf ski can change to a Futura II on race day and remain in the same class.) 

There are several ways to get the length to width ratio for sea kayaks.

The official method is to use a set of measurement calipers. The measurement calipers consist of a straight beam with adjustable jaws which are exactly 4 inches tall. The measurement calipers are placed against the hull and slid forward and aft to locate the maximum beam at the 4 inch waterline. To determine the length waterline the measurement committee has a long beam, which the boat is placed on, with 4 inch jaws that can be adjusted to locate the 4" length waterline.

Using either centimeter or inch measurements the:

Waterline ratio = (waterline beam / waterline length) * 100

If a boat has a keel, as is found on some canoes, the keel will not be included in the waterline measurement. If a boat has a rudder which is used to continue the waterline shape the rudder will be included in the waterline measurements.

Winglets which perform no useful purpose, besides meeting the classifications requirements, will not be included in the waterline measurements.

Alternate methods of determining the waterline are to place the boat in placid water with an average weight paddler in it. Use a grease pencil to mark the waterline on both ends, and the sides, then eyeball measurements over a measuring tape. This is imperfect as paddler weight can greatly affect waterline length.

Another way to get the beam measurement is with a piece of plumbing solder. The solder can be wrapped around the hull to get the hull profile, then the solder copy of the hull profile can be measured.

BOAT RATIO CHART

 

Photo By David Jones